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2 SheetsSheet 1. W. GROSSE. STBAMBOAT (No Model.)

Patented Apr'. 11, 1893.

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W. GROSSE. STEA'MBOAT.

No. 495,410.. PatentdApr. 11, 1893.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GROSSE, OF LITTLE SUAMICO, WISCONSIN.

. STEAM BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,410, dated April11, 1893. Applicationfiled September 1, 1892. Serial No. 444,761. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GRossE, of Little Suamico, county of Oconto,State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteamboats, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce improvements in verticallyadjustable propellers, whereby the draft of the boat may be increased ordiminished to suit the necessities of navigation. It-is desirable,ordinarily,

to have the propeller set as low as possible in order to gain speed,butfor small craft, where a river of varying depth is to be navigated, italso is desirable to have the propeller susceptible of verticaladjustment, either automatically or at will. By my device Iprovide meanswhereby the propeller of a boat may be ordinarily set deep, but arrangedso that if the false keel should strike the bottom of the river it willraise the propeller asuitable distance, and allow the boat to passwithout danger to the propeller, or without the possibility of gettingstuck on the bottom.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, is a side elevation of a boatwith my invention attached showing the propeller in the highestelevation. Fig. 2, is a similar view showing the propeller in the lowestposition. Fig. 3, is a view of the knuckle joint, for uniting thepropeller shaft to the main shaft. Fig. 4, is an end view of thesupporting mechanism for the false keel. Fig. 5, is a top plan view ofthe false keel detached; and Fig 6, is a plan view of the mechanism atthe stern of the boat.

Referring to the figures on the drawings: 1, indicates a boat, and 2, ashaft, connected to an engine 3, and set in suitable fixed bearings, asusual, in the boat.

4, indicates a propeller shaft, I will call it, or a shaft which isconnected .to the main shaft by a universal joint 5, and which iscarried in gimbal bearings 6, in the vertical frame piece 7. The framepiece is preferably composed of flat strips of metal, as illustrated,and which are adapted to be set in suitable vertical bearings 8, onopposite sides of the medial line of the stern of the boat.

9 indicates a rack upon the frame piece,

which meshes with a pinion 10, that isadapted to be rotated and raisethe frame piece by means of the lever handle 11.

12 indicates a lock pinion united to the shaft 13 of the pinion 10,which is adapted to be engaged by a pawl or lock lever 14. By means ofthese pinions the frame piece may be raised by a push from below,without the aid of the handle for the purposes to be hereinafterexplained. Anyother suitable loose connection between the boat and framepiece may, however, be employed. The gimbal bearing of the propellershaft is soar-ranged that the propeller shaft may have some longitudi-fnal play within the bearing in order to accommodate-the shaft to thevertical motion of the frame piece. The construction illustratedconsists of an internally squared collar upon the gimbal bearing,adapted to receive the correlatively squared end of the propeller shaft,thereby producing a longitudinally yielding connection between the shaftand the bearing.

15 indicates a false keel pivoted on opposite sides of the keel 16 nearthe stern of the boat. It consists preferably of two branches providedwith a cross brace 17 and is adapted to be secured to the ends of theframe piece in any suitable manner.

18 indicates a rudder which is adapted to v be attached removably to avertical rod 19 secured to the frame 7. For this purpose I prefer toemploy split eyes 20 upon the rudder, the splits of the eyes arenarrower than the body of the rod, but are adapted to allow the passageof the upper flattened end of the rod and so permit the rudder to belifted vertically and removed.

It will be perceived from the foregoing description that the operationof my device is controlled by the operating of the ratchet, either bymeans of the lever or by the resistance upon the false keel from below,as where the boat passes over a shallow place, the bottom will strikeagainst the false keel and raise it the proper distance. The ratchetwheel will revolve freely in the one direction so as to allow the rackupon the frame piece to pass up a suitable distance. After the rack haspassed the desired distance the ratchet will be held rigidly and willsupport the rack in 2. The combination with a boat, of a false keelpivoted on opposite. sides of the main keel, extending rearwardly to thestern of the boat, and there connected with a vertical l frame piece, arack upon the frame piece a ratchet upon the boat meshing with the rack,a shaft supported by suitable fixed bearings in the boat, a propellershaft carried upon the fixed shaft, a suitable universal bearing in theframe piece andv means for the longitudinal movement therein of thepropeller shaft, substantially as and for the purpose as specified.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto v subscribed my name.

WILLIAM GROSSE. Witn esses WILLIAM SMITH, G. H. WILSIE.

